In baseball each defensive position has a number from 1 to 9. It isn’t the number on the jersey: it’s a scoring code used to write down every play on the field.
The full system
The numbering goes: 1 pitcher, 2 catcher, 3 first base, 4 second base, 5 third base, 6 shortstop, 7 left field, 8 center field and 9 right field. It follows a logic in the infield but jumps around, which is why the shortstop is 6 and not 5.
Reading a play
That’s why a double play is written «6-4-3»: shortstop (6) to second baseman (4) to first baseman (3). The system is over 100 years old and every scorekeeper in the world uses it, from a Mexican sandlot to Yankee Stadium.
FAQ
Why is the shortstop 6 and not 5?
The numbering was set early in the game’s history, following a different logic across the infield.
Is it the same as the jersey number?
No: the position number is for scoring, separate from the number a player wears.
